The Secret Life of Nature: Living in Harmony with the Hidden World of Nature Spirits from Fairies to Quarks

by Peter Tompkins

In this dramatic combination of New Science and esoteric religious and philosophical wisdom, Tompkins draws from the recorded accounts of the visions of clairvoyants and shamans dating from the ancient mysteries, passed on through Hindus, Persians, Chaldeans, Pythagoreans, Pharaonic Egyptians, Gnostics, neo-Platonists, Kabbalists, and Rosicrucians down to the theosophists and anthroposophists of today. To these are added recent studies by naturalists and scientists that support the view that nature spirits are, in fact, not only real, but crucial transformers and manipulators of primordial energy within the natural world.
A century ago theosophists using yogic powers accurately described the subatomic composition of all the known chemical elements (and several as yet undiscovered by science) down to the level of quarks and beyond, descriptions since validated by nuclear physicists. Why not, argues Tompkins, give credence to the minute descriptions of the world of nature spirits provided by the same theosophists and anthropologists down to details of their habits and essential functions, and upward through the spiritual hierarchies from which they derive?
"Walking through the woods I do not see spirits, but I sense them all around." According to Tompkins, they develop the growth in plants, assist in the rhythms of nature, and are intermediaries between humans and the world we live in. Assuming that the actions of these beings are fundamental to natural laws, Tompkins says it should be possible to "integrate [our] efforts with theirs and to lead this planet back to its proper state as a Garden of Eden, thriving and healthy." But time, he reminds us, is running out - the loss of natural ecosystems and the extinction of plant and animal species around the world is approaching catastrophic levels. Concerned ultimately with both the condition of the planet and the state of the human soul, Tompkins prescribes a to develop our innate perceptions, become conscious of these spirits, and cooperate with them to heal the earth, restore nature, and rediscover ourselves.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Nature

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Peter Tompkins was an American journalist, World War II spy, and best-selling author.
His best known and most influential books include The Secret Life of Plants, published in 1973, Secrets of the Great Pyramid, reprinted in paperback in 1997, and Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids, published in 1976. He is the father of author Ptolemy Tompkins.

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into with this book, but it happened to be my first foray into the occult world of the theosophical society and the esoteric teachings of the kabbalah and Rudulf Steiners school of Anthroposophy and much much more.
I would give this book a 5-star review if it was written in a slightly more inspired way, especially in the beginning, but as the book went on and finally revealed what it was leading up to, tying up all the loose ends the first hundred pages or so left you, I struggled to put it down.

I think this is the type of book that has a very limited audience, most who would find it probably expecting a look at the interconnectedness of nature and instead reading a book about the clairvoyant chemists, ayahuasca, angels and the freemasons. But for me, as someone who has always had a passing interest in Eastern esotericism and the occult found this book to be an amazing introduction to the broadness of these schools and their implications for the world around us.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the occult, mysticism, nature, subatomic physics and spirituality. You just may have to slog through a few chapters of dry word for word recountings of the appearance of every type of nature spirit ever encountered by specific clairvoyants.

[Daniel Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saltar un par de capítulos indigeribles tiene su premio.

[Graisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book presenting evidence of experiences with real nature beings and explains how theosophists were able to psychically gather accurate information about physics before scientists did. A book that is equally about science and spirituality, this is well worth the read.

[Sally Daffarn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard read but interesting and memorable.